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Welcome! I started "Transgender Is An Adjective" in the Spring of 2013. I had been asked to give a presentation at a children's summer camp on how to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for transgender children. Just weeks before the training, I got a call that the training had been called off because of resistance from the administration. The person on the other end of the phone said, "I'm sure you get this all the time," as if to assuage my surprise. It was a reality check, a sad reminder that trans* people continue to be forced to live in the margins and that we have been made silent, invisible, and inhuman throughout history. You can read more about my reaction here.

It is my hope that through writing I can connect people to resources on gender diversity and introduce topics that many people may not have had reason to think about or talk about deeply in the past. I speak primarily from my own experiences. I have decided that for me, it is not an option to remain silent about my gender experience or gender diversity more generally. I believe that by sharing our experiences and advocating for our basic fundamental human rights, trans* people not only create a safer world for ourselves but perhaps a safer environment in which people of all genders can be their most authentic selves.

*Click on the photo above to view more photos from the Stepping Forward Project

Understanding Gender

In the dominant culture the terms "gender" and "sex" have become interchangeable and many of us have falsely subscribed to the idea that there are only two genders - male & female. Gender, however, is far more complex and nuanced than this and it is helpful to think of gender as a spectrum, with everyone - transgender & cisgender alike - falling somewhere unique along this spectrum. For an easy-to-understand visual, check out "The Genderbread Person". The Gender Spectrum is also a great resource for understanding gender. And for even more information, you can read "Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue".

A Note On Language

The word "transgender" is often used as an umbrella term to describe anyone whose identity or behavior challenges stereotypical gender norms. Throughout this site, I use the word trans* to denote the broad and inclusive nature of the word "transgender". For more information on language & terminology "A Word About Words" by Gender Spectrum is a great resource!

Why The Title?

Transgender children, youth, and adults - like all people - are multi-faceted individuals. We are not defined by one aspect of our experience. "Transgender" is one word among many that describes each of us.